A BANNED drunk driver who crashed his jeep into a police car has escaped a jail sentence.

Graham Hislop-Jones even claimed drinking did not affect his driving when he was interviewed.

Wirral magistrates court yesterday heard Hislop-Jones, 50, was stopped in Prenton Road East, Birkenhead, on August 25 last year after a worried taxi driver flagged down police.

Alan Currums, prosecuting, said: “The officers saw him stationary at a set of green lights.When he did move off, he was in the centre of the road and was soon so far on to the wrong side, he almost touched the kerb. When an officer began to talk to him, he could smell intoxicants, but the car was rolling backwards because the handbrake was not on. It collided with the police car, damaging the bumper and the near side.

“The officer in the car reported pain in his lower back and stiffening of the shoulders and neck.

“When the officer asked Hislop-Jones if he had been drinking, he replied ‘yes, I’ve had s***loads’.”

The court heard Hislop-Jones, of Meadowfield Close, Rock Ferry, was banned for four years in 2005 for driving with excess alcohol.

Yesterday, he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and failing to provide a specimen.

Gerry Pachter, defending, said despite Hislop-Jones’s alcoholism, he had no plans to cut down his drinking.

Hislop-Jones was sentenced to a five-month prison term, suspended for 18 months, a 12-month supervision order and a five-year driving ban.

Leaving the court, a smiling Hislop-Jones gave him the thumbs-up and said: “Cheers, lad”.

David Midmer, of the Merseyside branch of the UK Roadpeace charity, said: “Had his original sentence been more meaningful, this situation could have been avoided.”